Romans 13:1-7

Flowing directly from Paul’s direction to make sure our love is genuine, in our relationships with one another, even extending to our enemies, he now tells us to submit to civil authorities.  He gives us four reasons:

• We submit because God has put civil authorities in place.
  • We submit because God has put civil authorities in place for our good.
  • We submit because God has put civil authorities in place and if we don’t we will be punished.

We submit because God has put civil authorities in place and our submission confirms we understand and believe it.

Download powerpoint: 02-19-12

What does it mean?

1. How would you summarize Chapter 12?  What about 12:17-21 specifically?

2. In 13:1, what does Paul mean by “be subject to…”?

3. Who are the “Authorities” Paul want us to think about?

4. Why does Paul use the word “resist” three times in v.2?

5. What is good conduct vs. bad conduct?

6. Describe the picture of government you get from 13:4?

7. What does it mean to “bear the sword”?

8. What does Paul mean by “for the sake of conscience” in v.5?

9. What is Paul referring to by the “this” in v.6: “because of this”?

10.  In what way is Paul saying that authorities are “ministers of God”?

11.  How would you summarize verse 7?

12.  What is Paul trying to communicate about the relationship between believers and the government?

How does it apply?

1. How have you viewed your relationship with authorities?  Does this differ at all from Paul’s view?

2. What is the result of living a life viewing authorities the way Paul describes?

3. Have you ever resisted (or wanted to resistJ) authority inappropriately?  What does this say about the state of our faith in those moments?

4. Has there ever been a time in your life where you’ve felt you needed to resist authority? Explain.

5. How are you living out v. 7?  How might you this week?

Download the questions: LifeGroup 02-19-2012

Romans 12:14-21 (17-21)

Paul tells us we are to overcome evil with good by loving others even when they mistreat us.  How in the world are we supposed to do that?  Is it even possible?

1. We are to genuinely love others even when they mistreat us.

2. We are empowered by God to love others even when they mistreat us.

3. We overcome evil by loving others when they mistreat us.

Download PowerPoint: 01-22-12

1. How do the big ideas of 12:1-8 flow into 12:9-21?

2. What’s the big idea of 12:9-13?

3. How would you paraphrase 12:14-16?

4. When Paul says, “pay no one evil or evil”, who is “no one”?  Be precise.

5. What does Paul mean by doing “what is honorable before all”?

6. Why is Paul’s objective in 12:18 that we live “peaceably” with all?  What happened to the greater expectation of harmony (12:16)?

7. We aren’t supposed to avenge ourselves, but let God take care of it.  How does this motivate us to love our enemies?

8. How do we “heap burning coals” on the head of those we love?

9. How do you think Paul expects that good overcomes evil?

10. How would you summarize 12:17-21?

11. How would you summarize 12:9-21?

How does it apply?

1. When someone mistreats you, how do you typically respond?

2. Why do you think it is so difficult for us to respond with love to those who mistreat us?

3. Recount a time when you mistreated someone else and they responded with love towards you?

4. Where do we find the power to love others when we don’t love us?

5. When someone mistreats you, and you don’t respond with love, how do you end up feeling?

6. Can you think of a time where you witnessed good (love) overcome evil?  What happened?

7. How would our church be different if we could learn to love more thoroughly than we do?

8. What would the Church’s reputation in the world be if we could learn to love more thoroughly than we do?

Download the questions: LifeGroup 02-12-2012

Romans 12:14-16

Flowing out of 12:9-13 Paul continues to challenge and encourage us to live, as transformed thinkers (v.2), a life of genuine love (v.9).  As believers, we know that nothing can separate us from God’s love (ch. and that he can be trusted (ch.9-11) and continually has our best interest in mind.  This transformed thinking motivates and compels us to think AND act differently towards all people; even those who wish us harm.  The reality is this: because God has our best interest in mind, we have the best of others in mind and action.

Transformed thinkers:

1.) live lives which pursue the good of people who pursue our bad

2.) show supernatural empathy and compassion to all

3.) understand themselves accurately, as a servant, and honors Gods children

This all manifests itself in the bride of Christ living HARMONIOUSLY for our good and His glory.

1. How would you summarize Romans 12:1-2 and 3-8?

2. How would you describe the connection between 12:1-8 and 9-13?

3. In verse 14, what does Paul mean by “bless”?

4. Why does Paul contrast blessing with cursing?

5. What can we infer about the cause of the rejoicing and the weeping?

6. What does it mean to live in “harmony” with one another?

7. What does it mean, in this context, to be “haughty”?

8. Who/what is Paul referring to by “the lowly”?

9. What does it mean to be “wise in your own sight”?

How does it apply?

1. Have you ever seen someone blessing their persecutor?  What were the results?

2. Why does Paul even tell us to be empathetic (v.15)?  Doesn’t this seem pretty natural/simple?

3. What is harder for you: to celebrate with someone in a joyous time OR to mourn with someone in the midst of trials?

4. In what ways have you lived in harmony this past year with other believers?  In what ways have you not?

5. Who/what are the lowly ‘people’ or ‘tasks’ in your life that you may be tempted to avoid?  Why do we do that?

6. In what ways do we still need our minds renewed as it relates to our view of self and our view of others?

Download the questions: LifeGroup 02-05-2012

Drew Sodestrom – January 29, 2012

Romans 12:9-13

Paul continues to articulate what Authentic Faith looks like by giving us a description of Genuine Love.  This is not intended to be a list that we manufacture but rather the manifestation of faith—it is literally the evidence of a life being transformed by the Love of God in Christ (5:8).  This is the supernatural life of love, which we have all experienced and Paul has described in chapters 1-11.

Love is Primary

1. Love recognizes and rewards others
2. Love cures our lazy
3. Love promotes confidence in trials
4. Love “puts privacy in its place”

1. How would you connect 12:3-8 to 9-13?

2. In the context of 12:3-8, what does Paul mean by “love” and what makes it genuine?

3. Again, in this context, what evil is Paul encouraging us to abhor/hate?

4. Paul qualifies the love we ought to show in v.10 with “brotherly affection.”  What does this mean?

5. What does Paul mean when he writes to outdo each other in “showing honor”?

6. If slothful means lazy and zeal means passion—what would it look like to be passionate, but lazy?

7. What does Paul mean by being “fervent in spirit”?

8. Is there any significance to the ordering in verse 12?  Why does Paul start with hope then move to tribulation and prayer?

9. Why would believers contribute to the needs of the saints?

10.  Why does Paul say “seek” to show hospitality?  Why not just “show hospitality”?

11.  What’s so important about our money (contribute) and our homes (hospitality)?

How does it apply?

1. Have you ever experienced genuine love?  What did it look like?  Feel like?

2. Have you experienced an increase in your ability to love other believers in the past 3 years?  How have you seen this?

3. How has your understanding of Romans 1-11 and God’s love prevented you from becoming “lazy in your zeal”?

4. When was the last opportunity you had to experience “patience in tribulation”?   Were you patient?  Why?

5. In what ways have you benefited from the love of the brethren in “contribution” or ”hospitality’?

6. How might we be able to love others with our “wallets and homes”?  Individually and even as a Life Group together?

Download questions: LifeGroup 01-29-2012

Romans 12:3-8
How do we, those whose lives are founded in our experience of God’s mercy, whose minds are being renewed, how do we think?

• I’m not as important as I once thought.   Think Humbly.
• We don’t have an overinflated view of ourselves.
• We think seriously about who we are in Christ.
• We use faith as the standard against which we assess who we are.
• I’m not as self-sufficient as I once thought.  Think Community.
• We are part of a community that lives in unity in Christ.
• We are each individuals, with functions and gifts that differ.
• We belong to one another.
• We each use our gifts.

1. How would you summarize 12:1-2?

2. Why does Paul refer to the “grace given” to him?

3. Why is thinking with “sober judgment” contrasted with thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought?

4. What does is mean to think with “sober judgment”?

5. What does Paul mean by “measure of faith”?  How does it relate to our thinking soberly?

6. Why does Paul talk about our being “one body”?

7. Is there significance to our being one body “in Christ”?  Explain.

8. What does he mean that we are “individually members of one another”?

9. Why does he tell us we have different gifts?

10. Why do you think Paul lists these gifts?  Are they exhaustive?

11. What do you think Paul hopes we will understand after reading 12:3-8?

12.  How do you think Paul hopes we will respond after reading 12:3-8?

13. How would you paraphrase 12:3-8?

How does it apply?

1. Are there situations where you still struggle with pride?  How do you know?

2. What have you found has increased your genuine humility?

3. Has your growing understanding of Romans 1-11 increased your humility?  Explain.

4. How has being part of the community of faith encouraged your faith, your life?

5. Have you been disappointed or hurt by being a part of the church family?  (Be careful, no gossiping here)  How did you respond?

6. What gift(s) has God given you?

7. How are you using your gift(s)?

8. How do you feel when you use your gift(s)?

Download the questions:  LifeGroup 01-22-2012

Romans 12:1-2

What is the key to our living differently?  Thinking.  Thinking rightly.  Thinking rightly about God.

• Thinking and acting like we did before should not be.
• Thinking more rightly about God is the means of our ongoing transformation.
• Thinking more rightly enables us to know how to live in a way that pleases God.

Download PowerPoint: 01-15-12

Why I hate Religion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY

1. Paul in 12:1-2 is transitioning from chapters 1-11 to 12:3-16.  How would you summarize the big idea of chapters 1-11?  Chapters. 12-16?

2. How would you paraphrase 12:1?  How would you summarize the big idea of 12:1?

3. What does Paul mean when he tells us to “not be conformed to this world”?  How are we to not “conform”?

4. Paul says we are to be “transformed”.  What is this transformation?

5. What does it mean that our minds are renewed?  Renewed from what?

6. How does the renewing of our minds bring about “transformation”?

7. Paul says that by “testing” we will know the will of God.  Testing what?  What kind of testing?

8. He says we will “discern the will of God…”, about what?

9. How would you paraphrase 12:2?

10. How does 12:2 connect in thought to 12:1?

11. How would you summarize 12:1-2?

How does it apply?

1. In the past, how have you attempted to live a life that more fully reflected your being God’s child (obedience)?  Did that approach work in changing your behaviors long term?  Explain.

2. How has your thinking about God changed the most in the last 2 years?

3. How have your feelings about God changed as your thinking has changed?

4. How have your behaviors changed as your thinking about God has changed?

5. What strategies for bringing about ongoing spiritual growth and transformation have you tried that have not worked?

6. What have you found to be most effective in bringing about ongoing spiritual growth and transformation in your life?

7. In what area of your life, right now, do you desire to experience increasing transformation?

8. In what area of your life have you enjoyed the most spiritual transformation?

Download the questions: LifeGroup 01-15-2012

Romans 12:1-2 (1)

We are moving from Paul’s thorough description of genuine faith (1-11) to how that faith gets expressed (12-15).  Paul transitions in a way to make it clear, that the only attitudes and actions that please God are those rooted in our experience of His mercy.

• Our experience of God’s mercies is the foundation of our expression.
• Everything we think and do is to be an expression of God’s mercies.
• Authentically expressing our experience of God’s mercies is how we worship God.

Download PowerPoint: 01-08-12

1. How would you summarize the major ideas of Romans chapters 1-11?

2. How would you paraphrase 11:33-36?

3. What’s the significance of the “therefore”?

4. Why do you think Paul “appeals” to them?

5. When Paul references “the mercies of God”, what is he referring to?

6. What does Paul mean by “a living sacrifice”?  What is that?

7. How do we present our bodies as a living sacrifice?

8. In what sense is our “living sacrifice” “holy”? “acceptable to God”?

9. What is “spiritual worship”?  Why doesn’t Paul simply say, ‘worship”?

10. How would you paraphrase Paul’s thought in 12:1 without using any of the words he uses?

How does it apply?

1. How have you best come to understand God’s mercy?  Experience God’s mercy?

2. How has your understanding and experience of God’s mercy grown?

3. In what area of your life is your faith in Christ most easily lived out?  Why?

4. In what area of your life do you feel like your faith in Christ gets lived out the least?  Why?

5. How do you view your lifestyle as related to your worship?

6. What do you believe would help you more thoroughly live out your understanding and experience of God’s mercy?

7. Who do you know that thoroughly and authentically expresses their faith in the way they live?  What impact does that have on your faith?

Download the questions: LifeGroup 01-08-2012

For Freedom
Keith Gove

Download Powerpoint: 01-1-12

Pop Quiz
How do you define Stable?
a.) adj: firmly established, permanent, enduring–not changing or fluctuating
b.) n: building in which domestic animals are sheltered and fed
c.) n: a group of people under one management
d.) all of the above

A Stable Experience

A Stable Influence

Romans 11:33-36

Introduction:  We conclude the first eleven chapters of Romans, the theological foundation of the letter, with Paul leading us to the inevitable destination of our journey – WORSHIP.

• A confidence in what we know about God leads us to the understanding that there is so much about God that is beyond our present understanding.
• A confidence in what we know about God leads us to overwhelming humility.
• A confidence in what we know about God leads us to pure, whole-hearted, mind blowing, awe inspired exaltation.

Download PowerPoint: 11-27-11

1. How would you summarize Paul’s flow of big ideas through the first eleven chapters of Romans?

2. What does Paul mean by the “depth” of God’s “riches”?  “wisdom”?  “knowledge”?

3. What is Paul trying to convey by saying that God’s judgments are “unsearchable” and his ways “inscrutable”?

4. Paul asks 3 rhetorical questions in 11:34-35, that are all obviously to be answered with, “No one”.  No one knows God’s mind, can counsel him, or give him anything.  What positive idea is Paul conveying with these questions?

5. What does it mean that all things are “from” God?  “through” God?  “to” God?

6. What’s the significance of ending this section with, “To him be glory forever. Amen.”?

7. How would you paraphrase Paul’s big idea in 11:33-36?

How does it apply?

1. What are you thinking and feeling as we end the 11^th chapter of Romans?

2. What ideas in these 11 chapters have most encouraged your faith?

3. What ideas in these 11 chapters have most challenged your faith?

4. What ideas in these 11 chapters would you like to think about and discuss more?

5. When you think about God what ideas give you the most confidence, assurance, peace and joy?

6. When you think about God, what ideas do you find most perplexing?

7. How do you feel when you get to ideas about God that seem impossible to integrate?

8. What do you do when you get to ideas about God that seem impossible to integrate?

9. What do you think would help you grow in your faith the most?

Download: 11-27-11 life group

Todd Chapman – November 20, 2011

Romans 11:25-32

In Romans 9-11 Paul is tackling a particular potential misconception.  It could appear that God is not honoring his promises to the Jews because so many are rejecting Jesus.  Paul writes these chapters to make it unmistakably clear nothing could be further from the truth.   God has an eternal, cosmic plan that He is fulfilling.

God’s Cosmic Plan Revealed: This Mystery

• A partial hardening has come upon Israel  (for an extended period of time most Jews will reject Jesus)
• The fullness of Gentiles will come in  (all the Gentiles God intends to be saved will be)
• All Israel will be saved  (all the Jews God intends to be saved will be)

Download PowerPoint: 11-20-11

What does it mean?

1. How would you summarize what Paul has said in 11:11-24?

2. Paul is trying to discourage the Gentile readers from being “wise in your own sight”.  What is he trying to discourage?

3. Paul reveals “this mystery”.  What is the essence of the mystery (things previously not revealed) that Paul is writing to reveal?

4. What does he mean by “the fullness of Gentiles”?

5. Who, according to this literary context, is “all Israel”?   What are the possibilities?  How are they saved?

6. What is Paul trying to communicate by quoting Isaiah in 11:26-27?  Why quote the Old Testament here?

7. In 11:28  who is the “they” that “are enemies of God for your sake”?    Who is the “your”?   These same folks who are “enemies” of God are “beloved” as it relates to election and “beloved” for the sake of their forefathers.  What does that mean?  How can the same people simultaneously be “enemies” of God and “beloved”?

8. What specifically is the “gift” and “calling” that is “irrevocable”?   How would you paraphrase this verse?

9. What is Paul saying in 11:30?

10. In 11:32 Paul tell us, “God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all”.  By “all” does Paul mean every individual?  What else could he mean by “all”?

11. How would you summarize the big idea(s) of 11:25-32?

12. How would you summarize the flow of big ideas in Romans chapters 9-11?

How does it apply?

1. What questions pop into your head from your reading of this passage?

2. Does Paul’s revealing of God’s eternal, historical plan of salvation encourage you to trust him more?  Explain.

3. Does Paul’s revealing of God’s eternal, historical plan of salvation encourage you to greater humility?  Explain.

4. How do you think Paul wants we Gentile Christians to feel about our Jewish friends who have so far rejected Jesus?

5. Do you think what Paul reveals about God’s future plan for Jews ought to impact our political views towards the nation of Israel?  Explain.

Download the questions: 11-20-11 life group

If we get who God is and understand His plan we will not be arrogant, instead Paul tells us we will live with appropriate fear.  In our text Paul continues to describe how we live with “fear filled faith”.  The key to a balanced and healthy faith is keeping our minds simultaneously focused on the severity and the kindness of God.

God’s severity

• God will punish those who don’t trust in Jesus.

God’s kindness

• God is way too good to those who trust.
• God’s kindness will be enjoyed by those who continue to trust Him.
• God will gladly saturate anyone, no matter their past, with His kindness, if they will simply trust Him.

Download Powerpoint:

1. How would you summarize what Paul has said in 11:16-22?

2. When Paul tells us to note the “kindness” of God, what specifically do you think he is referring to by “kindness”?

3. What do you think Paul means by “severity”?

4. God’s severity is directed towards those who have “fallen”.  Who is that?

5. To whom specifically is God’s kindness directed?

6. How does someone “continue in his (God’s) kindness”?

7. Why is it important to “continue in his kindness”?

8. Who gets grafted in if “they” don’t continue in their unbelief according to Paul?

9. How would you summarize 11:22-24?

10. How would you paraphrase what Paul is saying in 11:16-24?

How does it apply?

1. Have you ever personally wrestled with arrogance as a result of your trusting in Jesus?  Explain.

2. How did you first come to recognize the severity of God?

3. How did you first come to recognize the kindness of God?

4. Throughout your journey of faith have you been able to balance the kindness and severity of God?  Have you been tempted to emphasize kindness over severity? Severity over kindness?

5. What’s the danger we face if we emphasize God’s kindness and neglect his severity?

6. What’s the danger we face if we emphasize God’s severity over his kindness?

7. What do you think God is specifically trying to communicate about himself to you through these verses?

Download the questions: 11-13-11 life group

Romans 11:17-24

Last week we celebrated Gods eternal plan that we are special and chosen!!! As much as Paul wants us to believe that we are special (Romans 8:28-39), he also warns us (Romans 11:17-24) that this can never lead to arrogance. Instead, we who are chosen by grace humbly worship God with a more fear-filled faith.

What/Why we celebrate (v. 16-17):

Warning AGAINST celebration (v.18-20a):

How DO we celebrate (v.20b-21):

Download the powerpoint: 11-04-11.ppt

Download the readings: readings11-04-11.ppt

What does it mean?

1. How would you summarize chapter 11:11-16?

2. Who are the branches Paul describes in v. 16? In v. 17?

3. What is the “nourishing root” that Paul refers to?

4. What’s the benefit of being people who “now share in the nourishing root” v. 17?

5. Why does Paul urge the reader to not be arrogant?

6. What does Paul mean by the Gentiles are supported by the root at the end of v. 18?

7. In light of 11:11-12, why were some branches broken off?

8. Why does Paul tell the gentile ‘branches’ to “fear” in verse 20?

How does it apply?

1. Have you ever been chosen for something that you weren’t qualified for?

2. What was it? How did that make you feel?

3. Do you know any arrogant “Christians”? How would you define/characterize them?

4. What does the fear of v.20 look like in our daily life?

5. Do you know anyone who has manifested fear FILLED Faith?

Download the questions: 11-06-11 life group

Romans 11:11-16

In order to encourage our growing trust in God Paul describes more specifically God’s eternal plan.  Comprehending God’s plan will move us to celebrate, dedicate and anticipate.

Celebrate:  As we increasingly appreciate God’s eternal plan we will celebrate.

Dedicate:  As we increasingly embrace God’s eternal plan we will gladly dedicate ourselves to the role he has for us.

Anticipate:  As we increasingly value God’s eternal plan we will joyfully anticipate the consummation of it.

Download PowerPoint: 10-30-11

What does it mean?

1. How would you summarize Paul’s big idea in 11:1-10?

2. Who is the “they” in v.11?

3. How did “they” stumble?

4. What is the difference between stumbling and falling?

5. What are the riches that “their” trespass has brought to Gentiles?

6. What is “their full inclusion”?  Who?  Gets included where?  When does this happen?

7. What does Paul mean when he says, “I magnify my ministry”?

8. How did Paul’s magnifying his ministry make the Jews jealous?

9. Paul states that the Jew’s acceptance (inclusion) will mean “life from the dead” for Gentiles.  How does Paul intend us to understand “life from the dead” in this context?

10. What is Paul saying in 11:16?

11. How would you summarize 11:11-16?

How does it apply?

1. How do you feel about the Jews’ stumbling leading to the gospel going to we Gentiles?

2. How does seeing God’s plan laid out in these verses encourage your faith?

3. Does more clearly seeing God’s long term plan encourage you to be even more dedicated to ministering on behalf of Jesus?  Explain.

4. Do you sense that the joy we are experiencing in our faith at RCC is causing unbelievers to be jealous?  Explain.

5. How do you feel about the plan God has for the Jews?

Download the questions: 10-30-11 life group

If God is not faithful to Israel there is no reason for us to trust him.  Paul continues to insist that God is completely trustworthy, and the basis of our trusting Him is recognizing God for who He actually is.  Here is a foundational truth:  If we trust in Jesus it’s because God, in his infinite wisdom and freedom, has already chosen us.

1. Those who seek righteousness on their own will never find it.

2. Only those chosen by God experience his righteousness.

3. Those not chosen were hardened by God to the gospel.

Download PowerPoint: 10-23-11

What does it mean?

1. How would you summarize the big idea of 11:1-6?

2. What does Paul mean by “chosen by grace” (11:6)?  How would you define grace as it’s being described here by the author?

3. Why does Paul ask in verse 7, “What then?”   What is the essence of this question?

4. What was Israel seeking that it failed to obtain?  Why did they fail to obtain it?  (for help see 9:30-33)

5. What did the elect obtain?   Who are the elect?  Why is this statement important here?

6. Specifically, to whom is Paul referring when he says the “rest”?  What does it mean that they were hardened?  Who is it that is implied did the hardening?  (for help see 11:8)

7. How would you summarize 11:8?

8. How would you paraphrase 11:9-10?

9. What’s the big idea of 11:7-10?

10. How does the big idea of 11:1-6 connect to the big idea of 11:7-10?

How does it apply?

1. Why do you think Paul spends so much time talking about election?

2. Do you believe God chose some to be saved and not others?  Explain.

3. If you believe that God chose some to believe, what do you think was the basis of his choosing?

4. Does the concept of election (predestination) give you any comfort, assurance, or confidence about your faith?  Explain.

5. Does election seem unfair to you?

6. If you accept, hold to, or even embrace election, how does it make you feel?

7. How does your view of election effect your motivation for evangelism?

Download the questions: 10-23-11 life group

Romans 11:1-6

Chapter 8 ends with the confidence that we have because of Gods amazing love. Since then (9-11) Paul has been answering the question of God’s trustworthiness in light of Israel’s current condition. Paul says in chapter 11, the question isn’t can we trust God because of his history with Israel but rather argues that God’s history with Israel is one of the MAIN reasons that we CAN trust Him. It is because of his history with Israel that we as people, chosen by grace, can more fully trust him today.

Those chosen by grace trust God because…

a.) He hasn’t rejected his people

a. See Paul

b. See Foreknown

c. See Elijah and Remnant

Those chosen by grace are…

a.) Living RADICALLY

b.) Overwhelmed by his love

Download PowerPoint:  10-16-11

1. What is the big question Paul is trying to answer in chapters 9-11?

2. How does he answer the above question in chapter 9? Chapter 10?

3. What does Paul refer to by the “then” in 11:1?

4. What evidence does Paul give for his answer, “by no means!”?

5. What does Paul mean by “foreknew” in verse 2?

6. Who is Elijah and what is his accusation and appeal to God?

7. Why does Paul use this and the 7,000 as an example?

8. What is a remnant?

9. Why does Paul say “chosen by grace”? Is there any significance to adding the word “chosen”?

10. Why does Paul seem to emphasize grace so emphatically?

11. How would you summarize the big idea of Chapter 11:1-6?

How does it apply?

1. .Have you ever had a hard time trusting people? Why?

2. Why is Paul’s answer to the question in verse 1 important to you today?

3. Have you ever been confident about how God was going to handle a certain situation and it didn’t turn out the way you thought/wanted? What was that like?

4. What is it about who God is (and what he as done in your past) that compels you to trust more fully today?

5. How have you felt ‘chosen by grace’ this past year? Give specific examples

6. In what ways do you live differently as a result of your answer to question 4?

Download the questions: 10-16-11 life group

Paul continues to give us evidence that God is completely trustworthy.  Though many deliberately reject Him, Paul makes it clear that God has always been dedicated to revealing Himself.

• God has generously and continually revealed Himself to the Jews.

• Many Jews knowingly rejected Jesus.

• God has graciously revealed Himself to the Gentiles.

• Some Gentiles have embraced Jesus.

Download PowerPoint: 10-09-11

1. How would you summarize the big idea of 14-17?

2. In verse 18 Paul states,  “have they not heard?””  Who specifically is the “they”?  Have they not heard what?

3. In verse 18 Paul quotes Psalm 19:4.  Who specifically is the “their” in,  “Their voice has gone out to all the earth…”?

4. What does he mean by,  “Their voice has gone out…..to the ends of the world.”  How far is that?

5. In demonstrating that the Jews of his day actually understand what is being said about Jesus in 10:19 Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:21.  Why does he quote Moses here?  Who are the folks that are, “not a nation”, and then called “a foolish nation” that God will use to make the Jews jealous?

6. Paul again quotes the Old Testament in 10:20, it’s Isaiah this time.  Who are those that find God but have not been seeking him?  Who does God show himself to that did not actually ask?

7. Paul seems to end this section with an emphasis on a less than positive note (10:21). Many (Jews) are rejecting him, though God says he has “held out my hands” to them. Why does Paul end this paragraph like this?

8. How would you summarize the big idea of chapter 10?   How does it fit with the big idea of chapter 9?

How does it apply?

1. Has the issue Paul is dealing with in these chapters ever bothered you?  In other words, has the mass rejection of Jesus by the Jews in Paul’s day ever caused you to doubt God’s trustworthiness?  Why or why not?

2. What are the issues that perhaps cause you to not trust God more fully?

3. When you think back through the first 10 chapters of Romans, what ideas that Paul has conveyed have encouraged you to trust God more?

4. When you think about trusting God, are there symptoms that suggest you could trust him more than you do?  What are they?

5. In the last year, what things, ideas, people have most encouraged you to trust God more fully?

6. Right now, if there is anything that would bolster your faith in God, what would it be?

Download the Questions: 10-09-11 life group

Romans 10:14-17

In our text Paul lays out 5 essential steps in the process of conversion, emphasizing the absolute necessity of someone verbalizing the good news.

Call – Believe – Hear – Preach – Send

Send  – Preach – Hear – Believe – Call

If folks are to be saved …

• …someone must be sent.
• …the person sent must articulate (preach) the good news;
• …the spoken (preached) good news must be heard.
• …the heard good news must be believed.
• …the belief must lead to calling for God’s help.

1. How would you summarize the big idea of 10:5-13?

2. Paul moves from the glorious news of “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”, to, “How will they call on him in whom they have never heard?”  Why do you think Paul transitions like this?

3. Paul lays out the sequence of coming to trust Christ.  Call – Believe – Hear – Preach – Send.   Why does he set out this sequence in the reverse order from which it chronologically occurs?  (Send – Preach – Hear – Believe – Call, is the order in which it happens in real life)

4. In Paul’s use of it in 10:14, is “calling” the same thing as “believing”?  Explain.

5. Is it possible for someone to trust Christ and miss one of the steps listed by Paul?  Explain.

6. What does Paul mean by “preach” here?

7. Paul quotes Isaiah saying, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news”.  Whose feet specifically is Paul talking about?  What makes them beautiful?

8. In 10:16 Paul mentions that “they have not all obeyed the gospel”.  Who is the “they” to whom he refers?  Why does he add that here?

9. In 10:17 Paul summarizes again the process of coming to faith, yet he mentions only 3 pieces, faith – hearing – the word of Christ.   Why does he only mention 3?  Why does he give a sequence again?  How does this list relate to the list he gave us earlier verses 14 and 15?

10. How would you paraphrase the big idea of 10:14-17?

11. How does the big idea of 10:14-17 flow from the big idea of 10:5-13?

How does it apply?

1. Who was it that has most helped you understand the gospel?  How did you know them?  What do you think motivated them to share with you?

2. What did they communicate?  How did they communicate it?

3. How long was it from the time you first came to understand the gospel until the time you chose to treasure Jesus?  What happened in your life to move you from not trusting Jesus to trusting him?

4. How do you feel today about that person(s) who helped you understand the extent of Jesus’ love and sacrifice?

5. Do you find it intimidating to articulate the gospel with those who you know who have yet to believe?  If so, why do you think?

6. Why do you think God has chosen to use us as the primary instruments through which the gospel gets communicated to those who need to hear it?

7. What do you think would help you find more joy in sharing the truth of Jesus’ love with those yet to believe?

Download the questions: 10-02-11 life group

Romans 10:5-13

If we get that good intentions are not enough, that right thinking is essential to faith, that trusting Jesus is the only way to be declared righteous, then we are convinced that the way of faith is totally incompatible with attempting to earn God’s favor through our efforts.

The Way of Effort

• Works is an approach.
• Most people are using it.
• To be effective, we must do it perfectly.

The Way of Faith

• No work involved. (Jesus did it all.)
• Faith is it.
• Faith gets expressed.
• Offered to all.
• All who trust get rich.

Download PowerPoint: 09-25-11

1. How would you summarize Paul’s big idea in 10:1-4?

2. What does Paul mean by “the righteousness that is based on the law”?  What is the essence of this righteousness?

3. How would you paraphrase what the “righteousness based on faith” does not say?  (10:6-7)

4. Paul tells us what the “righteousness of faith” does say in 10:8.  How would you paraphrase what Paul is trying to communicate by quoting Deuteronomy 30?

5. Paul tells us (10:9-10) that if we believe with our heart and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord we will be saved.   Is Paul adding “confession” to “faith” as another requirement to our being saved?  Explain.

6. What does Paul mean by “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek”?   Why do you think he mentions that here?  What’s his point?

7. What, specifically, are the “riches” that get bestowed on all those who call on the name of the Lord?

8. What does it mean to “call” on the name of the Lord?

9. How would you summarize the big idea of 10:5-13?

10. How is 10:1-4 connected to 10:5-13?

How does it apply?

1. Why do you think Paul spends so much time distinguishing between the righteousness of faith and the righteousness of the law?

2. When did you first come to understand salvation is through faith alone and not based upon any of our own effort?

3. How has your understanding of “faith” grown in the last months?  Years?

4. Are there ever times when you think you may fall into the trap of trying to please God through your own effort?  What does that feel like?

5. Do you ever find it difficult to “confess” that Jesus is Lord?  Why do you think?

6. In your life, how is your obedience to Jesus related to your faith?

7. What lately, has encouraged you to trust Jesus more?

Download the questions: 09-25-11 life group

For Women Only – Homework Help Week 1 Day 1-5

Romans 10:1-4

Paul reveals his deep affection and prayers for those he knows and loves that are not trusting Christ. He is confident that without faith in Jesus they will spend eternity separated from God.  While his heart is breaking he insists on making it clear that…

• …good intentions are not enough
• .…wrong thinking about God is the foundation of unrighteousness.
• …wrong thinking leads to trusting the wrong object.
• …right thinking leads to Jesus and faith.

Download PowerPoint: 09-18-11

What does it mean?

1. How would you summarize what Paul was saying in chapter 9?

2. What do you think Paul tells us here that his heart’s desire is that the Jews be saved?

3. What’s the significance of Paul saying here that he is praying for the Jews to be saved?  (Hint: This is immediately following chapter 9)

4. What do you think Paul means by referencing the unbelieving Jews as having “a zeal for God”?

5. We are told they are “ignorant of the righteousness of God”.  Being as precise as you can, what is it that they don’t get according to Paul?

6. In ignorance, these folks don’t submit to God’s righteousness and rather seek to establish their own.  What did that look like?  What were they believing?

7. In what sense do you think Paul means that “Christ is the end of the law”?

8. How would you summarize the big idea of 10:1-4?

How does it apply?

1. When did you first become conscious of the truth that it was impossible to justify yourself before God by your own effort?  Describe.

2. Are there times when you are still tempted to use your own efforts as a basis for God’s acceptance?  How does it feel?  How do you recognize you might be slipping into a “performance based” perspective?

3. Have you known others who don’t trust Christ and are trying to earn their way into heaven by how they live?  Without breaking any confidences or gossiping, how do their lives differ from what Paul seems to be describing as a life of faith?

4. Describe what happened when you first discovered that we are justified by faith alone in Jesus?  How did you feel?  What did you do?

5. How long have you trusted Jesus?  How has your trust in Jesus changed since then?

6. Do you ever feel like you are disappointing Jesus?  How do you think Jesus actually feels about you?

Download the questions: 09-18-11 life group